Statement by the Ministry of Communications on media reports about SABC GCEO

5 January 2010

The Ministry of Communications has noted with concern media reports about the appointment of Mr Solly Mokoetle as Group Chief Executive Officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

We find the report, as published in the Sunday Times of 3 January 2010, to be grossly irresponsible and lacking in credibility as the statements are merely attributed to so-called anonymous sources.

The SABC is a critical institution of our democracy and society at large.

To most people, it is the only source of news, information and entertainment. It is the sole platform through which millions of our people express their views and contribute towards the strengthening of our democracy and nation building.

It is therefore irresponsible for anyone to attempt to portray a picture of discontent and perpetuate the notion that there is a crisis regarding the appointment of a GCEO by the SABC interim board.

The Minister of Communications indicated in his budget vote speech last year that he intended to move swiftly in initiating the process of appointing an interim board.

Among the chief priorities of the interim board, said the Minister then, would be to stabilize the SABC both financially and organizationally, including the filling of key vacant positions such as that of the GCEO, COO and Head of News and Current Affairs.

The Broadcasting Act (as amended) empowers the interim board to appoint a GCEO.

Accordingly, the interim board was well within its rights to make such an appointment because it has the equal amount of authority as a full, permanent board. The point being made by some, including these faceless sources, that the incoming board should have the prerogative to appoint a GCEO is baseless and unfounded.

A GCEO is not the property of any particular board and there is nothing in the Broadcasting Act and/or the Articles of Association that govern the SABC; that dictates that the term of a GCEO should be synchronized with that of a board of directors.

Neither is there any clause that states that every board should appoint its own GCEO. The Ministry of Communications also finds as irresponsible and unprofessional the conduct of the board member/s quoted as the anonymous sources.

It is unbecoming for any board member to disregard the available channels to raise whatever grievances they may have and instead opt for planting baseless stories in the media.

This goes against the letter, spirit and purport of corporate governance which board members should endeavour to uphold at all times.

We therefore wish to put it on record that no one has ever approached the office of the Minister of Communications raising concern about either the legitimacy of the process of appointing the GCEO or the successful candidate's suitability to hold that kind of office.

For more information contact:

Tiyani Rikhotso
Cell: 083 800 9936

Issued by: Ministry of Communications
5 January 2010
Source: SAPA